Orchard Network

Lichens

Lichens on orchard trees include species characteristic of continuity of tree cover in the landscape as well as rare and scarce species. Surveys of orchards have to date found 16 Nationally Rare or nationally Scarce species among 131 epiphytic lichens. The flora included a very rare and protected species, parmelinopsis minarum.

The lichen species in an orchard will vary with the age and position of the trees, local climate and the level of air pollution, to which some lichens are very sensitive. Different fruit tree species support different lichen communities due to different bark structures and chemistry.

Mosses

A wide range of epiphytic mosses and liverworts are often abundant on orchard trees and can include locally rare species. The variety of species can be high, especially on apple and pear, compared with other tree hosts. These in turn provide food and shelter for a range of invertebrates, as well as nesting material for birds.

As with lichens, differnt cultivars differ as hosts, perhaps due to different bark chemistry or texture.

Downloads

Brophytes in East Anglian Orchards - a paper in 'Field Brology' by Robin Stevenson & Jenny Rowntree

National Links

The Lichen Society

The British Bryological Society

The Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL)

Image: Robin Stevenson